Found an item? Your responsibilities

What to do when you find someone else's property — your responsibilities and how to return it safely.

Found something in Abilene? Handling it responsibly protects both you and the owner. Rules vary by location, but the principles are consistent.

Make a reasonable effort to find the owner. Check for ID, contact details, or anything that identifies who it belongs to.
Don't assume it's yours to keep. Keeping found property without trying to return it can have legal consequences. When in doubt, hand it in.
Hand valuables to the authorities. Report significant or high-value finds to the police non-emergency line for Abilene; they'll log it and may issue a reference.
Store it safely. Keep the item secure and unchanged while you try to return it.
Post a found listing. Add a found-item listing for Abilene with enough detail for the real owner to identify it — while holding back one verifying detail.

Helpful resources for Abilene

Nextdoor
Reach neighbors to return a found item

Recent reports in Abilene

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Found orange tabby with blue collar in Abilene

I found a medium-sized orange tabby this afternoon around 2:15pm outside the Mall of Abilene on Buffalo Gap Road. It wears a bright blue collar with a tiny silver bell, and there’s a small white patch on its chest and white paws. It looks well taken care of but a bit cautious, especially around strangers, and it meowed softly when I approached before skittling under a parked car. I can tell it’s someone's pet—the way it nudged my hand and kept glancing toward the parking lot. If you recognize this cat or know who it belongs to, reach out here and I’ll help reunite you.

Abilene about 1 month ago

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Found: keys on blue lanyard near Mall of Abilene

Found a set of keys this afternoon around 4:15pm in the parking lot behind the Mall of Abilene on Buffalo Gap Road. There are three keys on a dented brass ring, plus a blue silicone lanyard with a white star and a tiny flashlight keychain. One key is a house key with a red enamel heart sticker, another is a Honda car key with a worn plastic head, and there’s a white tag that says 'Studio 4' in faded handwriting. They’re a bit dirty but still workable. If you’re the owner, send me a message on the app and we can arrange a quick handoff near the mall entrance or the food court.

Abilene 2 months ago

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Blue hardcover mystery novel with fox bookmark

I found a blue hardcover mystery novel this afternoon around 2:15 pm, tucked behind the Abilene Public Library on Cedar Street near the bike racks. It's a 2014 edition with a slightly creased spine and a fox-shaped orange felt bookmark tucked between pages. There's a faint coffee stain on the back corner of the dust jacket, and a small library stamp on the inside cover reading 'Property of Abilene Public Library.' I figured someone in town probably loves this book, and I'd like to get it back to its owner if you recognize these details. I can hold onto it until the rightful owner claims it.

Abilene 3 months ago

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Found vintage 1990s baseball cards binder

I found a small black 5x7 binder with clear sleeves stuffed with baseball cards from the early '90s. It's clearly a Topps-era set, with a handful of star rookies peeking through, and the cover shows a bright yellow sticker that reads 'Midwest Stars 1994' along with a blue Sharpie note on the back page. I found it this afternoon around 4:15pm behind the Mall of Abilene on Buffalo Gap Road, near the coffee shop and outdoor seating. It looks like someone put real care into organizing this; I'd hate for it to disappear, so I'm keeping it safe until the owner shows up.

Abilene 3 months ago

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Black 25-key MIDI controller (Akai MPK Mini MKII)

I found a black 25-key MIDI controller this afternoon around 4:15pm in the parking lot behind the Mall of Abilene on Sayles Boulevard. It's an Akai MPK Mini MKII, compact and sturdy, with a matte finish and a few scuffs along the bottom edge. It has 25 velocity-sensitive keys, a row of small function pads, and a blue USB cable still attached. On the back there’s a bright green sticker with the initials 'JP' and a tiny dent from a light drop, which helps it stand out. It looks recently used but well cared for, and I’d be happy to return it to its rightful owner once we connect.

Abilene 4 months ago

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Black iPhone 12 Pro found near Target in Abilene

I found a black iPhone 12 Pro with a cracked screen and a gray OtterBox case this afternoon around 4:15pm near the Target on Buffalo Gap Road in Abilene. It was sitting face-down on the sidewalk by the entrance, with a mint-green sticker on the back corner and a cracked screen protector peeling off. I powered it on briefly to check for a contact photo, but I didn’t see anything obviously identifying. There are a few photos of a family trip in the gallery and a note in the Notes app about a birthday, so it seems sentimental to someone. If this is yours, I would be glad to return it.

Abilene 4 months ago